U.S. patent application number 12/284033 was filed with the patent office on 2010-03-18 for cable assembly with molded grounding bar and method of making same.
This patent application is currently assigned to HON HAI PRECISION IND. CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Tien-Lu Kao, Yuan-Chieh Lin, Jim Zhao.
Application Number | 20100065327 12/284033 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42006223 |
Filed Date | 2010-03-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100065327 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lin; Yuan-Chieh ; et
al. |
March 18, 2010 |
Cable assembly with molded grounding bar and method of making
same
Abstract
A cable assembly (1000) includes a plurality of wires (1), each
wire (1) including an inner conductor (10), an insulative layer
(12) enclosing the inner conductor, a metallic braiding member (14)
shielding the insulative layer, and an jacket (16) enclosing the
metallic braiding member; a partial of the jacket of the each wire
removed away to expose a partial of the corresponding metallic
braiding member outside; and a conductive grounding bar (2) molded
over the partial of the corresponding metallic braiding member of
the each wire such that the wires and the grounding bar are
electrically and mechanically linked together.
Inventors: |
Lin; Yuan-Chieh; (Lake
Forest, CA) ; Zhao; Jim; (Fullerton, CA) ;
Kao; Tien-Lu; (Fullerton, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WEI TE CHUNG;FOXCONN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
1650 MEMOREX DRIVE
SANTA CLARA
CA
95050
US
|
Assignee: |
HON HAI PRECISION IND. CO.,
LTD.
|
Family ID: |
42006223 |
Appl. No.: |
12/284033 |
Filed: |
September 17, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
174/88C ;
29/876 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R 13/65918 20200801;
H01R 9/038 20130101; H01R 9/2483 20130101; H01R 13/03 20130101;
Y10T 29/49208 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
174/88.C ;
29/876 |
International
Class: |
H02G 15/08 20060101
H02G015/08; H01R 43/00 20060101 H01R043/00 |
Claims
1. A cable assembly, comprising: a plurality of wires, each wire
including an inner conductor, an insulative layer enclosing the
inner conductor, a metallic braiding member shielding the
insulative layer, and an insulative jacket enclosing the metallic
braiding member; a partial of the jacket of a front portion of the
each wire removed away to form a cavity therein to expose a partial
of the corresponding metallic braiding member outside, and a
remaining insulative jacket of the front portion of the each wire
still enclosing the metallic braiding member of the front portion
of the each wire; and a conductive grounding bar molded over the
partial of the corresponding metallic braiding member inside the
cavity and further over a portion of the insulative jacket disposed
behind and adjacent to the groove of the each wire.
2. The cable assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the grounding
bar is permanently integrated with the wires.
3. The cable assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the cavity
encircles around the corresponding metallic braiding member.
4. The cable assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein the grounding
bar is molded over entire peripheral of the corresponding metallic
braiding member.
5. The cable assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the wires are
arranged in at least a row along a transversal direction.
6. The cable assembly as recited in claim 5, wherein a distance
between the two adjacent wires is identical.
7. The cable assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the grounding
bar is made of thermoplastic, copper fiber and low melting
alloy.
8. The cable assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the grounding
bar includes 15 percent thermoplastic, 55 percent copper fiber and
30 percent low melting alloy.
9. A method of making a cable assembly, the method comprising steps
of: providing a number of wires, each wire including an inner
conductor, a metallic braiding member shielding and insulated from
the each wire, and an insulative jacket shielding the metallic
braiding; removing a certain length of the insulated jacket of a
front portion of the each wire to expose a partial of the
corresponding metallic braiding member outside, and having a rest
of insulative jacket of the front portion still enclosing the
metallic braiding member; arranging the wires in a row and having
the corresponding metallic braiding members disposed adjacent one
another; and molding a conductive material over the corresponding
metallic braiding members and further over portions of the
insulative jackets disposed behind and adjacent to the
corresponding metallic braiding members to form a grounding
bar.
10. The method of making the cable assembly as recited in claim 9,
wherein the wires are arranged in juxtaposed manner and have same
distance between the adjacent ones.
11. The method of making the cable assembly as recited in claim 9,
wherein the length of the jacket is stripped away from the metallic
braiding member to from a loop groove.
12. The method of making the cable assembly as recited in claim 11,
wherein the conductive material is applied to the loop groove by
injection molding process to form the grounding bar to electrically
and mechanically connect the wires together.
13. A cable assembly comprising: a plurality of wires each
including an inner conductor, an inner insulator, an outer
conductor and an outer insulator enclosing one another in sequence;
the outer insulators of said wires being removed at positions of
said wires arranged in line along a transverse direction to expose
the outer conductors to an exterior; and a conductive grounding bar
with through holes therein to have said wires extend therethrough
with the outer conductors at said positions located in said through
holes, respectively, with an electrical and mechanical connection
therebetween; wherein each of said wires is equipped with the outer
insulator by substantially two sides of said grounding bar for
keeping a stable electrical character therealong wherein said
grounding bar is of one piece molded over the wires in an intimate
manner, and said originally exposed outer conductor defines two
opposite ends axially under condition that one end of the exposed
outer conductor is located axially outside of the grounding bar and
radially exposed to an exterior, while the other end of the exposed
outer conductor is radially hidden under the grounding bar.
14. The cable assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein said
grounding bar further axially extends over said other end to cover
the outer insulator.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention generally relates to a cable assembly,
and more particularly to a cable assembly having a molded grounding
bar attached thereto.
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
[0002] Computers and other signal processing devices utilize
connectors to communicate signals to locations exterior to the
computer. The signals are typically transmitted through a plurality
of wires or cables which are connected to the computer through a
connector. Shielded wires or shielded cables (hereinafter referred
to collectively as "shielded wires") have a conductive shield braid
surrounding signal wire(s) on which the signals are transmitted.
The shield braid prevents noise from appearing on the signal wire,
controlling interference between adjacent signal wires.
[0003] The shield braid of each shielded wire is grounded. Shielded
wires have their inner conductors connected directly into the
connector, but the shield braid connected to an exterior portion of
the connector to ground the shield braid. Typically, the shielded
wire has a length of insulation removed to expose the shield braid,
and the shield braid is directly attached to the connector (for
example, connected to a ring terminal which is attached to the
connector through a screw) or connected indirectly to the connector
through a grounding block (also called a grounding bar or grounding
bus, etc.).
[0004] The grounding block includes multiple terminals, each of
which is adapted to have a pin which is affixed to the shield wire.
Grounding blocks allow connections of the shielded cable to be made
easily. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,772,516, issued to Lomastro on
Aug. 10, 2004 discloses a grounding block which is made of several
parts below. A main body includes a plurality of holes formed
therein a main clip and includes an exterior contact portion
positioned exterior to the main body, a first carrier strip
connected to the exterior contact portion and located within the
main body and a plurality of clips extending from this carrier
strip, each position within a corresponding hole formed in the main
body. A slave clip includes a carrier strip located within the main
body and a plurality of clips extending from the carrier strip,
each positioned within a corresponding hole of the main body to
make the corresponding one of the clips of the main clip. The pair
of the clips formed within each hole form a terminal to allow
terminal portions of a grounding wire to be connected therein. A
cap has a plurality of holes corresponding in position and size to
the holes formed in the main body may be frictionally engaged in a
hollow portion of the main body to complete the assembly.
[0005] However, prior art grounding block is complicated to
manufacture, thus increasing it cost to manufacture.
[0006] Therefore, a simple and easy manufactured grounding bar (or
grounding block) for a cable assembly is required to overcome
aforementioned problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to
provide a cable assembly with a molded grounding bar.
[0008] In order to achieve the object set forth, a cable assembly
in accordance with the present invention comprises a plurality of
wires, each wire including an inner conductor, an insulative layer
enclosing the inner conductor, a metallic braiding member shielding
the insulative layer, and an insulative jacket enclosing the
metallic braiding member; a partial of the jacket of a front
portion of the each wire removed away to form a cavity therein to
expose a partial of the corresponding metallic braiding member
outside, and a remaining insulative jacket of the front portion of
the each wire still enclosing the metallic braiding member of the
front portion of the each wire; and a conductive grounding bar
molded over the partial of the corresponding metallic braiding
member inside the cavity of the each wire.
[0009] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the
invention will become more apparent from the following detailed
description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is an assembled, perspective view of a cable
assembly;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a partially exploded, perspective view of a cable
connector assembly;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the cable assembly; and
[0013] FIG. 4 is a right side elevational view of the cable
assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0015] Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a cable assembly 1000 comprises a
plurality of wires 1 and a grounding bar 2 permanently integrated
with the wires 1 by an injection molding process. The wires 1 may
be micro coaxial wires, ultra micro coaxial wires, and the like.
The grounding bar 2 is a solid body after molding process, and it
may be conductive plastic or other conductive material. One kind of
preferred conductive material includes 15% thermoplastic, 55%
copper fiber and 30% low melting alloy.
[0016] Each of the wires 1 comprises an inner conductor 10, an
insulative layer 12 shielding the inner conductor 10, a metallic
braiding member 14 enclosing an outside of the insulative layer 12
and insulated from the inner conductor 10, and an insulative jacket
16 enclosing a peripheral portion of the metallic braiding member
14. The insulative jacket 16 is made of plastic material or other
insulative materials.
[0017] Each of the wires 1 has a certain distance and extends along
an axial direction thereof or a front-to-back direction. The wire 1
includes two segments along the axial direction, a termination
segment (or front segment) 1A for connecting to a connector (not
shown) and an intermediate segment (or rear segment) 1B adapted for
connecting to an electronic component (not shown) or another
connector (not shown). Both the termination segment 1A and the
intermediate segment 1B have a certain lengths along the axial
direction, and covered by the insulative jacket 16. And the
intermediate segment 1B is longer than the termination segment
1A.
[0018] A partial of the insulative jacket 16 of the front portion
of the intermediate segment 1B (or the rear portion of the
termination segment 1A) of the wire 1 is removed to form a
loop-shaped groove 162 therein and to have a partial of the
corresponding metallic braiding member 14 along its axial direction
exposed outside, and the whole insulative jacket 16 of termination
portion 1A or remaining insulative jacket 16 of the termination
portion 1A is still attached to the corresponding metallic braiding
member 14. However, the groove may be a cavity which is formed
after a partial of jacket 16 is stripped away. The remaining
insulative jacket 16 of the termination portion 1A may bound the
metallic braiding member 14 therein, as the metallic braiding
member 14 is made of a great deal of fine conductive wires and they
are fragile and spread if no such precaution, which may bring some
problem when the wire 1 is soldered to the connector. Anyhow, a
certain length of insulative jacket 16 attached to the front part
of the termination portion 1A is necessary, and such arrangement
would bring much convenience in manufacturing the cable
assembly.
[0019] The grounding bar 2 is molded over the partial of the
corresponding metallic braiding member 14 inside of the loop-shaped
groove 162 of the each wire 1. Therefore, the wires 1 and the
grounding bar 2 are electrically and mechanically
interconnected/linked together. The wires 1 are located at a same
plane and a distance between each of two adjacent ones is same.
[0020] The grounding bar 2 and the termination portion 1A of the
wires 1 may be regarded as connection portions 100 for being
coupled to a connector (not shown). In one of exemplary application
(not shown), which is quite similar to U.S. Pat. No. 7,311,552,
issued to Ko on Dec. 25, 2007 (hereinafter US'552 patent). In
US'552 patent, a back side 520 of a metal shell 52 may be read as a
grounding bar. The back side 520 defines a plurality of cavities
522 for receiving and contacting metal braiding members 42 of wires
4. Furthermore, an elongated spacer 3 defines a plurality of
grooves 323 for positioning the wires 4 to make it easy to solder
the wires 4 to contacts 2 supported by insulated housing 1.
Compared to US'552 patent, the grounding bar 2 of the present
invention not only serves as grounding means, but also has a
function of aligning or positioning wires. Furthermore, the
grounding bar 2 of the present invention may be molded over any
other part of the wire 1 to form a grounding path, not like those
in prior arts, the grounding bar or grounding block must assembled
to an insulated housing. The grounding bar 2 can also be enclosed
within metal shell of a corresponding connector (not shown) and
soldered thereto. The grounding bar 2 may be molded over any place
of the wires 1 and attached to a cage (not shown) of an electronic
device (not shown), too.
[0021] A method for making the cable assembly comprises several
steps below: providing a number of wires 1, each of the wires 1
including an inner conductor 10 enclosed within and insulated from
a metallic braiding member 14 and an insualtive jacket 16 shielding
the metallic braiding member 14; removing a partial of the
insulative jacket 16 of a front segment of the each wire to expose
the metallic braiding member 14 and preserving a rest of (a certain
length of) the insulative jacket 16 in front of the exposed
metallic braiding member 14; arranging the wires 1 in a row and
having the exposed metallic braiding members 14 of the wires 1
aligning with one another along a transversal direction; having
melted conductive material molded over the metallic braiding
members 14 exposed outside to form a grounding bar 2. The wires 1
are disposed at a same plane and spaced from one another, and a
distance between every two adjacent wires 1 is identical.
[0022] It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in
other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central
characteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments,
therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and
not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the
details given herein.
* * * * *